Good
things come in threes: Qatar becomes the 3rd export customer of the Dassault
Rafale

According
to an official statement by the French presidency, Qatar announced
today its intention to purchase the Dassault Rafale multirole
fighter aircraft, for a total amount of about 6.3 billion euros
($7.06 billion). The Emir of the state of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani confirmed over the phone yesterday
to French president François Hollande his intention to
procure 24 fighter aircraft, with an option for 12 other planes.

The
US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) granted defense
company Raytheon a $20 million contract to develop technology
that will allow missile guidance systems to fly more than five
times faster than the speed of sound, Raytheon said in a press
release on Wednesday, April 29.

The
upgraded D variant of China’s J-11 fighter jet has made
its maiden flight, Chinese media reported. The jet reportedly
has new radar and an air refueling system. The J-11D model, which
was tested in the air for the first time on Wednesday, is an upgraded
variant, based on the J-11B, with an AESA radar and more composite
materials. Its radar, EW systems, FBW systems, and communications
equipment are the same as those aboard the Shenyang J-16.

Russian
Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu gave instructions on Wednesday
to study the issue of resuming the production of Tupolev Tu-160
(NATO reporting name: Blackjack) supersonic strategic bombers
at the Kazan aviation plant in the Volga Republic of Tatarstan,
told yesterday April 29 the Russian newspaper Tass.

Libyan
National Army reportedly received four Mi-35P gunship helicopters

According
to local media, four combat helicopters have been delivered to
the Libyan National Army. They are said to have arrived in Marj
two days ago. Pictures released on social medias seem to show
that the helicopters delivered are the Russian-made Mi-24P/Mi-35P
"Hind-F" and are said to have been delivered from the
United Arab Emirates, reported yesterday, April 28, the Libyan
online newspaper Libya Herald.

Alenia
Aermacchi showcases for the first time the M-345 Ground Based Training
Demonstrator Device

During
ITEC, the annual International Forum for the Military Training,
Education and simulation sectors, held on 28-30 April 2015 in
Prague, Alenia Aermacchi is showcasing, for the first time, the
M-345 Ground Based Training Demonstrator Device (GDD). The M-345
GDD, painted in “Frecce Tricolori” livery, is an advanced
flight simulator, representative of the flight qualities of the
Alenia Aermacchi M-345 HET aircraft and offering a replica of
the cockpit and the main flight controls of the aircraft.

Exelis
and L-3 Platform Integration are partnering to provide cutting-edge
electronic self-protection capabilities for the U.S. Air Force
Special Operations Command’s (AFSOC) AC/MC-130J Commando
II aircraft. The team’s combined experience in electronic
warfare (EW) and platform integration will allow rapid development
of a highly advanced yet low-risk solution to protect Air Force
special operations aviators from the evolving radio frequency
threats they face in their global missions.

The
U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible
Foreign Military Sale to Australia for F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
and future fleet of EA-18G Growler Aircraft Sustainment and associated
equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost
of $1.5 billion. The principal contractor will be The Boeing Company
in St. Louis, Missouri.

Defence
and security company Saab announced today, April 28, it has developed
the PS-05/A fighter radar to a new version designated Mk4, which
gives Gripen C/D improved performance and operating range. The
development is a significant step on the roadmap for the future
capability enhancement of the Gripen C/D.

A
solemn ceremony to hand over four new training and light combat
aircraft Yak-130 to personnel of the 116th guards assault airbase
of the Belarusian Air Force took place at the Lida airfield on
27 April, reported yesterday the Belarusian newspaper BelTA. The
four new aircraft will make up an independent wing as part of
the airbase.

Indian
Air Force likely to receive four more Tejas light combat aircraft by 2015-end

The
Indian Air Force is likely to get four more indigenously made
light combat aircraft Tejas by the end of the current financial
year from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, National Aerospace Laboratories'
Director Shyam Chetty has said. "The four aircraft may
adhere to international standards on end-to-end accuracy,"
Chetty said, adding, further research was on to meet the parameters
stipulated by the IAF.

Lockheed
Martin to supply USAF with more C-130 support and training solutions

Lockheed
Martin continues to advance C-130 military airlifter aircrew and
maintenance training under recent contract awards from the U.S.
Air Force valued at more than $80 million, the US-based company
announced yesterday, April 27.

PZL-Swidnik
to provide Uganda with GrandNew, W-3A Sokol helicopter for law enforcement

PZL-Swidnik,
an AgustaWestland company, announced that it has signed a contract
with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uganda for the delivery
of a GrandNew and a W-3A Sokol helicopter. These aircraft, which
are to be delivered in 2015, will be operated by the Uganda Police
to perform law enforcement missions across the nation.

Rheinmetall
to upgrade NH90 Helicopter Cockpit Trainer for the German Bundeswehr

The
German Bundeswehr is currently upgrading its helicopter training
programme with simulation technology from Rheinmetall. In March
2015 the Simulation and Training business unit of Rheinmetall
Defence was awarded a contract from Germany’s BAAINBw defence
procurement agency to upgrade all NH90 Cockpit Trainer to IOC+
configuration and with additional software modules from Rheinmetall’s
Asterion product line.

Russia
to start testing Arctic version of the Mi-8AMTSh-VA helicopter by November

Ulan-Ude
Aviation Plant (part of Russia Helicopters Holding Company) is
developing Mi-8AMTSh-VA helicopter designed for operation in the
Arctic Region, Voenno-Promishlenniy Courier reports. «The
fuselage assembly is being completed. We are receiving documentation
for installation of systems. The helicopter should be transferred
to the final assembly workshop in April. The work (including testing)
should be completed in October or November,» a source
said.

Norway,
US to conduct observation flight over Russia under Open Skies Treaty

Head
of Russia's National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center Sergei Ryzhkov
reported that American and Norwegian specialists will fly over
the territory of Russia under the Treaty on Open Skies. "Within
the framework of the international Treaty on Open Skies a joint
US-Norway mission will conduct an observation flight over the
territory of the Russian Federation in the period of April 27-30,
2015, on [a] Romanian Antonov An-30 observation aircraft,"
Ryzhkov said.

US
approves possible FMS to India for follow-on support of country's C-130J
Super Hercules aircraft

The
US State Department has made a determination approving a possible
Foreign Military Sale to India for Follow-on Support of C-130J
Super Hercules Aircraft and associated equipment, parts and logistical
support for an estimated cost of $96 million. The principal contractor
will be the Lockheed-Martin Company in Marietta, Georgia.

According
to Interfax-Ukraine, the Ukroboronprom state concern has signed
agreements on supply of tactical radio communications systems
and single-engine helicopters to Ukraine with French companies.
The Ukrainian company signed contract for the supply of H125 helicopters
and tactical radio communications systems, Interfax told yesterday,
April 23.

China
to deliver last batch of 50 JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft to Pakistan
by 2019

China
will turn over the last batch of 50 FC-1 Xiaolong fighters, also
knwon as JF-17 Thunder, to Pakistan over the next three years,
said Li Pei, the former head of the aircraft project under the
Aviation Industry Corporation of China, in a report by the Chinese
newspaper People's Daily.

Defence
and security company Saab and the Brazilian Ministry of Defence,
through the Aeronautics Command (COMAER), have signed a contract
for Gripen NG weapon acquisition. The total order value is approximately
USD 245 million. The order is expected to be booked by Saab during
the second half of 2015.